Rhipsalidopsis plant named &#39;PKMRhips08&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rhipsalidopsis  plant named ‘PKMRhips08’ particularly characterized by its compact plant habit; dense and bushy plant form; moderate growth rate and upright growth habit; red colored buds; and large, upright red flowers.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Rhipsalidopsis×hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PKMRhips08’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofRhipsalidopsis, botanically known as Rhipsalidopsis×hybrida sometimesreferred to as Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose, including EpiphylopsisBerger, commonly known as either Easter Cactus or Spring Cactus, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PKMRhips08’.

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, Christian Hald Madsen, in Søhus,Denmark.

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar originated from a cross made by theinventor in 2007 in Søhus, Denmark. The female and male parents areunpatented, proprietary Rhipsalidopsis×hybrida cultivars. The newRhipsalidopsis cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in 2010 in Søhus, Denmark. The inventor selected‘PKMRhips08’ on the basis of its flower color and compact, freelybranching, upright growth habit.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar by phyllocladecuttings was first performed in 2010 in Søhus, Denmark, and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true totype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘PKMRhips08’ which distinguish thisRhipsalidopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright growth habit and upright flowers;

2. Moderately vigorous growth; and

3. Red colored buds and flowers.

Data on the parent cultivars is no longer available for comparison withthe claimed cultivar.

The most similar commercial cultivar to the instant cultivar‘PKMRhips08’ is the Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMrh02’ (Patented, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 21,425; CPVO Grant No. 37193). Plants of the instantcultivar ‘PKMRhips08’ differ primarily from plants of Rhipsalidopsis‘PKMrh02’ in the following characteristic:

1. Plants of ‘PKMRhips08’ have a more upright growth habit than plantsof ‘PKMrh02’, especially seen when grown as large plants;

2. Plants of ‘PKMRhips08’ have shorter phylloclades than plants of‘PKMrh02’ and are thus lower overall in total height;

3. Plants of ‘PKMRhips08’ have more red colored flower buds and flowersthan plants of ‘PKMrh02’; and

4. Plants of ‘PKMRhips08’ have smaller flowers than plants of ‘PKMrh02’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips08’ showing the colors as true asis reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colorsin the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited inthe detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colorof ‘PKMRhips08’.

FIG. 1 shows a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMRhips08’ grown in a 9 cmpot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of typical buds and flowers and a singlephylloclade of ‘PKMRhips08’.

FIG. 3 shows a comparison of a typical plant of ‘PKMRhips08’ with atypical plant of the comparison variety ‘PKMrh02’ (left) and a typicalplant of the similar variety ‘Sagitta’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips08’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘PKMRhips08’ asgrown in a glass-covered greenhouse in Fyn, Denmark, under conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice,where day temperatures in the greenhouse average 18° C. and nighttemperatures in the greenhouse average 16° C. Ambient light levels usedwhile growing plants of ‘PKMRhips08’ are +50 Wm². No growth retardantswere used when growing plants of ‘PKMRhips08’.

The age of the ‘PKMRhips08’ plants described is about 10-12 months afterpropagation and grown in 9 cm pots. The photographs and descriptionswere taken during the winter season. Color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition,except where general colors of ordinary significance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose.        -   Common name.—Easter Cactus or Spring Cactus.        -   Variety denomination.—PKMRhips08.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Unpatented, proprietary            Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose cultivar.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unpatented, proprietary            Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose cultivar.-   Propagation: By phylloclade cuttings.    -   -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—In a greenhouse,            about 2 months at 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fine, well-branched.-   Plant:    -   -   Type.—Perennial, Epiphyte.        -   Overall shape.—Upright.        -   Form.—Dense and Bushy.        -   Growth habit.—Branched.        -   Branching habit.—1-3 new phylloclades forming at the apical            end of older phylloclades. No pinching required.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Vigor.—Good.        -   Crop time.—About 10-12 months are required to produce a            finished flowering plant.        -   Size at maturity.—Height (soil level to top of plant,            excluding flowers): About 10-12 cm. Spread: About 12-15 cm,            excluding flowers.-   Stem: None, older phylloclades may turn woody with age (several    years).-   Phylloclade:    -   -   Arrangement.—Phylloclades form at the apex of older            phylloclades to form branches.        -   Aspect.—Upright to arching (from basal phylloclade).        -   Strength.—Strong (from basal phylloclade).        -   Length.—About 25-35 mm.        -   Width.—Up to 24 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Oval.        -   Apex shape.—Truncate.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Crenate. Can be purple, between RHS 83A and RHS 83B.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Approx. 1-5 hairs up to 4 mm long at areoles            along margins.        -   Color of mature phylloclade.—Upper and lower surfaces: RHS            146A, yellow-green, the central part can be a little            brighter.        -   Venation.—None.-   Flower description:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering occurs from February to            April (northern hemisphere), but can be changed by short day            photo-treatment and cold treatment. Flowers persistent,            sessile.        -   Flowering response time.—About 8 to 9 weeks after end of            cold treatment.        -   Flowering longevity (dependent on temperature and light            conditions).—About 5 to 6 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Quantity of flowers per terminal phylloclade.—About 1 to 2.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—About 20 to 25,            depending on plant size.        -   Flower bud.—Length: Ranging from 0 to 30 mm (before            anthesis). Width: Ranging from 0 to 8 mm. Shape: Ovoid to            lanceolatoid. Color: Larger Buds (over 3 cm): RHS 42A, Red            Smaller Buds (up to 3 cm): RHS 42A, Red.        -   Flower.—Type: Single. Shape: Actinomorphic. Aspect: Upright            to vertical during development. Persistent or self-cleaning:            Persistent. Height: About 3.5 cm to 4.0 cm (including            ovary). Diameter: Up to 7 cm.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Actinomorphic; not fused. Quantity:            15-20. Length: Ranging from 3 mm to 35 mm Width: Ranging            from 0 mm to 5 mm Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Apical Whorl: Fused; Basal Whorl: Free. Margin: Entire.            Appearance: Matte Texture: Smooth and Silky Color (When            Opening): Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 41A, Red. Color            (When Fully Opened): Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 41A, Red.            Color does not fade.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Quantity: Many (>100). Anther: Shape:            Oblong. Length: About 1 mm. Color: RHS 14B, yellow-orange.            Filament: Length: 15 mm. Color: RHS N74A, Red-Purple.            Pollen: Amount: Plenty. Color: RHS 14B, yellow-orange.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Quantity: 1. Stigma: Shape: Ovoid Color:            Between RHS 155A and RHS 155B, white Style: Length: 15 mm.            Color: Base: RHS NN155C, white Apex: RHS N34A, orange-red            Ovary: Shape: obdeltoid with a broad base. With ribs.            Length: 8 mm Width: 8 mm Color: Between RHS N77A and RHS            N77B, purple.-   Seeds/fruit: None observed.-   Disease/pest resistance and susceptibility: Not tested.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 2° C.    and to a high temperature about 40° C.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Rhipsalidopsis plant named ‘PKMRhips08’,as illustrated and described herein.